They could have cut out Kelly Clarkson (she stunk anyway) and everything would have timed out fine and been a better show to boot.

:eek: :D
If you cut Yelly's time, she would have had a temper tantrum and went on a shooting rampage. :eek:

Sadly, they didn't do a Yelly/McMe duet. Who can screech the loudest? Guaranteed that a catfight would ensue. What a ratings boost that would have been! :D

Plus, any decent DVR user knows to manually add time to the end of live events, sports, and finales. Fox shouldn't have to apologize for letting the show run its course and allowing it to generate ratings during sweeps, especially to those who weren't contributing to those ratings.

I have to agree with ya. IMO no apology is really needed.. and with 39 million + watching the announcement of the winner, I don't think they are worried about that :D

Also DVR users should know how to manually add time to any kind of "live event" That should be the norm. Because anything can happen at a live event.

Also DVR users should know how to manually add time to any kind of "live event"

We had people calling today -- TiVo owners -- who swore up and down that there was no way to "pad" the recording time! One guy said "yeah, I could have done that, but it's a hassle." Yikes. I guess we should have sent someone over to do it for him.

flat out hilarious scene! :p

But it is scary. If they keep going, somebody is going to go postal on them. I'm talking gunfire. Simon has concentric red circles on his forhead. I'd be just a tad more diplomatic if I were in his shoes.

I have to agree with ya. IMO no apology is really needed.. and with 39 million + watching the announcement of the winner, I don't think they are worried about that :D

Also DVR users should know how to manually add time to any kind of "live event" That should be the norm. Because anything can happen at a live event.
I can't believe you yahoos are defending Fox. What's wrong with you? You seem to be saying that as long as they get their ratings, it's okay to screw their viewers. Obviously most of us know how to add time to broadcasts - I do that every time I record a sporting event - but with a season pass or whatever it's called on other systems, it's all automatic for AI and other network shows and doesn't require user input. All they have to do is follow standard practice. AI often seems to run a little long, but never to the point that you miss anything worthwhile - so there was no reason to suspect that the finale would run so over that we would miss the final announcement. Gross incompetence or lack of concern for its audience - either way, it's unacceptable.

I can't believe you yahoos are defending Fox. What's wrong with you?

Hey, I resemble that remark! I'm not defending them per se, but rather I just don't believe it was done deliberately to either screw over DVR users or the other networks. What network would they be trying to hose? ABC was running LOST which had already been on for an hour, and CBS had what, a repeat of something and NBC, "Dateline?" I don't see what's to gain.

Also, it's worth noting that FOX doesn't produce AI -- they just air it -- so if sloppy production is to blame, those flames should be aimed at 19 TV Ltd., and FremantleMedia North America.

Where I work, they were actually NOT happy about this. The overage caused us to drop a break in our newscast, which means we LOST money on the deal (several kilobucks). Plus today, the staff had to spend hours on the phone fending off angry DVR users.

It was never voiced, but I have the distinct feeling (body language and the fidgeting when the subject was brought up) the overrun wasn't the first thing my place wanted to see on the last night of sweeps going into our top rated 10pm news either, having had an overrun the night before as well. I personally had several angry DVR emails about the overrun too. I think we all did.

No one consults me on programming issues. It is probably best that way. :)

You can't convince me that a show that has spent ALL SEASON milking result shows with drug out filler material suddenly goes over accidentally...it's called a SWEEPS month peeps! :rolleyes:

I can't believe you yahoos are defending Fox. What's wrong with you? You seem to be saying that as long as they get their ratings, it's okay to screw their viewers. Obviously most of us know how to add time to broadcasts - I do that every time I record a sporting event - but with a season pass or whatever it's called on other systems, it's all automatic for AI and other network shows and doesn't require user input. All they have to do is follow standard practice. AI often seems to run a little long, but never to the point that you miss anything worthwhile - so there was no reason to suspect that the finale would run so over that we would miss the final announcement. Gross incompetence or lack of concern for its audience - either way, it's unacceptable.

I see them "screwing" their viewers by going the opposite direction-- if they decide an hour into the show that it's running long, they have the option to cut an entire segment (or two), or let the show run as planned. How fair is it to those viewers watching live and from the beginning to cut content just to end on time? Why take away from the viewers who actually count in the ratings (ie those watching live)?

I too have a season pass to American Idol, yet I didn't have any problem manually adding ten minutes to the end of the show, and I don't see how anyone else would, either. When you step back and think about the 30 minute live buffer on most DVR units, anyone who decided to record the finale and started watching midway through to avoid commercials was probably able to rewind if they missed the ending. Those who missed it completely were the ones not watching at all, and by the time they would have gotten around to watching, they would have been inundated with so much media coverage of the outcome that missing the announcement is moot (especially with video of it all over the internet).

Long story short and rationalizations aside, I really don't have any sympathy for folks who are upset they missed the last ten minutes, and I don't think Fox should, either. If it was a scripted show like a Lost or CSI, I'd have different feelings about knowingly running over time, but with a reality show? It's live TV, and it's not difficult to find out who won.

At the commercial break at 8:58 or so, I hit the record button on the DVR and switched over to Lost. When you do it that way, you can't change the recording time to run over the scheduled time. It also never occurred to me that they would run over and announce the winner after the end of the scheduled time.

When Lost or CSI run over, it's always accounted for on the schedule, otherwise the stations are innundated with calls.

I wouldn't see it as screwing the audience if they deleted that pitchy Bette Midler performance, or one of those stupid Golden Idol sketches.

My recording shut off right as Ryan was standing with the pair. I was perfectly happy with that -- couldn't matter less who won, but it was not unkown in any event. The only thing I missed was the reaction and the Idol celebration of their victor -- probably would've FFed through that anyway.

Now SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE! Best show of the summer. Can't wait.

Amen. Love it.

Why couldn't they have marked the 1 hour before the show as part of AI? It was listed as "Everyone Loves Ramond" in my area. I only found it by complete chance. I got to see the red carpet pre-show and glad of it. It was more interesting than the show was IMO. But I could have easily missed it. I got to see the ending only because I was caught up to live and saw that time was running out. So I switched to live viewing. Otherwise I would have got to see, "and the winner is....." (jump to channel 1) Huh, what? Quick, switch back! Doh! My wife would have blamed me. :eek:

Why couldn't they have marked the 1 hour before the show as part of AI? It was listed as "Everyone Loves Ramond" in my area.

Whatever that was, it wasn't part of the network feed. Sounds like some kind of "special" that was offered/sold to some stations. If it wasn't in your program guide, you can blame your local station -- or the listings service -- for not adding it. What station was this on?

Whatever that was, it wasn't part of the network feed. Sounds like some kind of "special" that was offered/sold to some stations. If it wasn't in your program guide, you can blame your local station -- or the listings service -- for not adding it. What station was this on?
The Red Carpet special aired in Denver for a half-hour before the finale. It was a 4:3 SD affair, and appeared to have been done by the LA Fox station. I didn't know the three hosts, but all of the AI folks seemed to be very familiar with them. I thought it was pretty lame.

two hours of alot of fill crap like sanjaya singing and those stupid awards and then no winner in the two hour time frame recorded, fox sucks and can bite a donkeys a$$.

why did carrie wear those blue jeans, she should been wearing a hot dress for her performance like she did near the end

I am sorry that you hate to see a white kid trying to be black. What do you think of a black kid trying to be white?

Good question! That's one he has failed to answer yet.

IMO people should be able to do anything they want to do, if Blake is comfortable with the hip hop style. Why should he be labeled as acting black??? I remember reading on a message board about Justin Timberlake "acting black, or trying to be tough", when there was a photo of him walking with a majority of black peeps in his hometown of Memphis. So stupid!

I think the problem is that people have a set image on how each "race" is suppose to act, and who they are suppose to associate with. So when a black or white person breaks from the norm. They are automatically labeled as acting like that "race".

Whatever that was, it wasn't part of the network feed. Sounds like some kind of "special" that was offered/sold to some stations. If it wasn't in your program guide, you can blame your local station -- or the listings service -- for not adding it. What station was this on?

Same station as AI, HD-FOX.

The Red Carpet special aired in Denver for a half-hour before the finale. It was a 4:3 SD affair, and appeared to have been done by the LA Fox station. I didn't know the three hosts, but all of the AI folks seemed to be very familiar with them. I thought it was pretty lame.

Ah, that was probably a KTTV production, with the three hosts from Good Day LA.

Rather than padding the AI recording schedule just set the next program after AI to record. Its easy and if there was no overrun then just delete the other show.

Rather than padding the AI recording schedule just set the next program after AI to record. Its easy and if there was no overrun then just delete the other show.

Right. I do that all the time if I have any inkling a show may run over, or if it's an "important" show where I need to make sure I catch the very end, or if the network makes a habit of overruns, especially during football season. It's the easiest way.

Rather than padding the AI recording schedule just set the next program after AI to record. Its easy and if there was no overrun then just delete the other show.

you do realize this is their plan all along?

:)

okay, in this instance, it was probably just incompetence, since the local affiliates don't like runover into their news. in general, all the super-sized episodes are designed to keep you yoked to the current station. I don't know if tivo has fixed this or not, but when I had it, tivo would flag a conflict if one show ran over and encroached into another's time slot. It wasn't smart enough to just record the second show late. PITA.

...the local affiliates don't like runover into their news...
And yet they are more than happy to break into my favorite shows every five minutes with "breaking news" stories such as a kid has been missing for 10 minutes and the family can't find them (only to find out later that the kid was in the back yard the entire time) or that Paris Hilton has named her new puppy Mr. Bigglesworth. :confused:

You can't convince me that a show that has spent ALL SEASON milking result shows with drug out filler material suddenly goes over accidentally...it's called a SWEEPS month peeps! :rolleyes:

But they do TELL the stations when they plan to go over and how much. And yes, every week we get notices that there is a possiblity AI COULD could go over, but to my knowledge, there was not a "we definately WILL go over tonight" on Wednesday.

And yes, every week we get notices that there is a possiblity AI COULD could go over, but to my knowledge, there was not a "we definately WILL go over tonight" on Wednesday.

You are correct. We received the same notice for every "live" episode, including the finale -- "in the event Idol runs past its scheduled off time (we don't anticipate this), we will wrap ASAP and get off the air."

The "scheduled" off time on Wednesday was 9:59:50 (ET/PT).

The Red Carpet special aired in Denver for a half-hour before the finale. It was a 4:3 SD affair, and appeared to have been done by the LA Fox station. I didn't know the three hosts, but all of the AI folks seemed to be very familiar with them. I thought it was pretty lame.

It was very lame, but we got to see Paula likely drunk or on drugs because of her nose, completely out of it, mumble something about not being able to remember contenstant's names. That was weird.

Sweeps month. Maybe. I agree that the overtime for the finale was no accident. I just barely got the announcement for the winner myself after adding 5 minutes ahead of time. It's not like I didn't already know who was gonna win (and by a landslide) anyway. I simply can't wait to hear Jordin's debut album. It's gonna be phenominal for sure. I thought about buying tickets for the Idol tour, but I'm not sure if it's worth having to sit through Blake's wannabe getto beat box shtick and that Tina Turner wannabe crap from Shrek.

Ah, that was probably a KTTV production, with the three hosts from Good Day LA.

It was exactly that. The GDLA hosts do a 30 minute "pre-game" show from the Red Carpet and make it available to at least O & O's. I am not sure if it is available to non O & O's. KDVR in Denver is an O & O.

It aired on the Mpls Fox station also.

I saw a little of that pre-show. Melinda was on and co-host Jillian Barberie said that she really hadn't watched the show in past seasons, but now that Melinda was voted off she won't be watching it any more. Maybe not the smartest thing to say, but I don't think she was hired for her brain.

Anyone else find it weird that of last years contestants, they had visits from:

#1 Taylor Hicks
#3 Elliot Yamin
#4 Chris Daughtry
#6 Kellie PIckler

but not #2, Katherine McPhee? Was she deliberately left out? Refused to come? Did they not want to promote her dismal album sales?

It aired on the Mpls Fox station also.

KMSP is an O & O as well.

Anyone else find it weird that of last years contestants, they had visits from:

#1 Taylor Hicks
#3 Elliot Yamin
#4 Chris Daughtry
#6 Kellie PIckler

but not #2, Katherine McPhee? Was she deliberately left out? Refused to come? Did they not want to promote her dismal album sales?

Don't know about McPhee (maybe she lost her voice again or was sick again?) but I did think it was interesting that Clive Davis cooed all over the number THREE runner up from last year with 2.5 million units sold and hardly mentioned THE American Idol of last year. Me thinks America got that one wrong, as far as Clive Davis is concerned.

But I thought Taylor's performances last year were better than Wednesday night. He sounded and acted more like a lounge act. Guess that might be one reason for his sluggish sales.

Don't know about McPhee (maybe she lost her voice again or was sick again?) but I did think it was interesting that Clive Davis cooed all over the number THREE runner up from last year with 2.5 million units sold and hardly mentioned THE American Idol of last year. Me thinks America got that one wrong, as far as Clive Davis is concerned.

But I thought Taylor's performances last year were better than Wednesday night. He sounded and acted more like a lounge act. Guess that might be one reason for his sluggish sales.
Taylor sounded real good and strong to me, especially his blues number. Different strokes, I guess, as to what genres we enjoy.

Taylor sounded real good and strong to me, especially his blues number.I thought he was going to sing "What'd I Say" as it starts the same way.

I keep reading on-line that Simon Cowell announced he is leaving American Idol afters its 10th season. Is this true? Doesn't that mean though that Simon would be there for a few more years because they aren't anywhere near 10 seasons.

I think he said something like "I could do this for three more years."

My local radio station yesterday announced that Randy and Paula have been let go. They will be replacing them with two new "younger and hipper" judges after they lost $6M viewers. Supposedly, Paula will have her own reality show with cameras following her around her day to day life. Randy will host or judge some new dancing show.

Is this rumor, a joke, or reality?

Local radio stations are always a reliable source of information :D I might believe the Paula part, but I'd be surprised about Randy Jackson leaving. He is hosting a new show (http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?ID=7085) on NBC this fall. Too bad Sharon Osborne is on AGT as she would have been a good replacement for Paula and probably alot more sober.

I'd be surprised if they dumped Paula and Randy. While ratings may have dropped some with the last couple of shows, it was still a top-rated show. Why mess with it?

Besides, Paula is in the press this week stating something to the effect of "I have found my purpose in life...being a judge on American Idol." Now, who would want to disrupt that type of devotion?

Besides, Paula is in the press this week stating something to the effect of "I have found my purpose in life...being a judge on American Idol." Now, who would want to disrupt that type of devotion?Maybe Jack Daniels and Jim Beam. And, oh yeah, some of her Buds. Probably many others.

The part about Paula having a reality show IS true. The rest sounds fishy. I mean if you don't hear it on ET or The Insider, it is just gossip! ;)

Besides, Paula is in the press this week stating something to the effect of "I have found my purpose in life...being a judge on American Idol." Now, who would want to disrupt that type of devotion?I read that too in USA today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-05-30-paula-abdul_N.htm?csp=34
and the AP
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070531/ap_en_tv/people_paula_abdul_3
But you have to understand that her new show gives her the opportunity to blame her drunken behavior on a lack of sleep :rolleyes:
I do think that the metal plates in her neck probably do cause her a lot of pain and have led to some drug/alcohol abuse.